Community Choices

09/09/2025

If you are a member of the Common Ground Food Co-Op (a fellow local cooperative!), We hope that you will vote for Community Choices in their owner elections and Round Up for Good program! Please tell your fellow Common Ground owners to support us as well!

Common Ground Owners should have received an email in the last few days with the subject "Common Ground Owner Elections". All you need to do is click "Vote Now" and choose Community Choices as one of 10 organizations you can vote for! The organizations chosen usually get between $3000-$5000 in donations!

Ballots must be submitted by 9/10/25 at 8pm, so don't wait!

09/08/2025

We are excited to announce our first Co-Op Meeting of the fall on Thursday, Sept. 11th from 6-7:15pm!

Guests from PACE, Inc. Center for Independent Living's PSW Matching Program will be joining us to hear all about how they can support self-advocates and families find PSWs as part of the Home Based Support waiver program. If you have been wanting more PSWs, but weren't sure where to find good candidates, this would be a great session to attend! Program organizers Eric Enger and Paula Vanier will be presenting!

Here's the Details:
WHAT: CC CO-OP Meeting - Learn about PACE's PSW Matching Services
DATE: Thursday, Sept. 11th
TIME: 6:00-7:15pm
LOCATION: CC Offices! [New space for these events!] - We're excited to offer this event in our new, larger conference room!
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Anyone looking for or considering hiring PSWs to provide 1:1 Support. All are welcome! CC Membership not required, please invite your friends if they are interested!

09/04/2025

A big thank you to the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois for donating the conference table and chairs they were no longer needing for our new conference room! We can't wait to get to work in the new space with this perfectly timed gift! Way to share resources!

08/14/2025

Are you new to our Coop and want to connect with other members? Come to our New Member Mixer!

Sign up at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdIv3GjaeEjsgY-mg4gZooaC6blwfwwqY__Ugx_FQ2lFccDlw/viewform?usp=header.

07/14/2025

Come join the team! Community Choices is currently hiring a Driver/Social Event Support staff. Check out the job description and apply on Indeed! Got questions? Contact Becca at becca@communitychoicesinc.org.

https://www.indeed.com/job/driver-event-support-staff-adults-intellectual-disabilities-91610fcbc6704056?_gl=1*1wipevu*_gcl_au*OTA3NzkwNjYyLjE3NTA3OTY1NDY.*_ga*MTgxOTkxODY3My4xNzUwNzk2NTQ2*_ga_5KTMMETCF4*czE3NTI1MTk3NTIkbzEwJGcwJHQxNzUyNTE5NzUyJGo2MCRsMCRoMA..

06/02/2025

Congratulations to Urbana Park District for completing our LEAP Front Line Staff Training with their Summer Camp leaders and Aquatics managers!

LEAP: Leaders in Employing All People is a collaborative project between Community Choices and DSC that aims to educate Champaign County employers on the benefits of hiring employees with disabilities. Our frontline staff training furthers that education by educating supervisors and staff on accommodations, learning styles and communication that ultimately lead to more successful job placements for all employees.

If you are interested in either of our LEAP trainings, please contact our Lead Employment Specialist, Ashley Withers (ashley@communitychoicesinc.org)

05/15/2025

Info on more potential cuts that would affect people with I/DD. Please let your elected officials know how this would affect you and your community!

05/07/2025

Check out our May Newsletter!

Our recent Women’s Support Group gathering was a joyful and inspiring time as participants came together to create personal vision boards. Using magazines, quotes, markers, stickers, and plenty of creativity, each woman built a collage of her hopes, goals, and dreams for the future. The activity s...

05/05/2025

May Co-Op Meeting – You’re Invited!
Thursday, May 8 | 6:00–7:15 PM
Grace Lutheran Church (Springfield & Prospect, Champaign)

Join us for a helpful and informative session with Annie Bruno, LCSW from the Arc of Illinois. She’ll be talking about PUNS, waiver funding, and what happens when you get pulled.

Whether you’re new to the process, recently selected, or already using services, this is a great chance to learn, ask questions, and connect with others.

Open to all – you don’t have to be a Community Choices member to attend.

05/02/2025

Community Choices will be hosting our quarterly Co-Op meeting this coming Thursday, May 8th from 6-7:15am.
We’re very excited to welcome Arc of IL Ligas Family Advocate, and previous Community Choices employee, Annie Bruno LCSW, to speak about PUNS, Waiver Funding, and What to expect once you get “pulled”!

This will be a great opportunity to people who have recently gotten "pulled", are waiting, or who have been using the waiver for a while! All are welcome, so feel free to invite community members, if they are interested!

A little more info:
Recently received an Early Notification Letter or a PUNS Selection letter? Interested in learning more about possible services in the future?

Join us to learn about your options under the Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver for Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Illinois.

We will discuss service and support options, explore the role of your ISC, review the key steps you need to take to prepare for the application process, and talk through common concerns and barriers.

Here’s the Details:
DATE: Thursday, May 8th, 2025
TIME: 6:00-7:15 pm
LOCATION: Grace Lutheran Church on the corner of Springfield and Prospect in Champaign
ALL ARE WELCOME - No need to be a CC Member, if this seems like helpful information please feel free to attend or share with your circles!

Hope you can make it!

04/08/2025

Happy Spring!
We’re excited to invite you to join us for our upcoming Greener Together - Community Clean-Up event in collaboration with the City of Champaign’s Neighborhood Services Department!

📅 Date: Saturday, May 3rd, 11a-12:30p

Join us cleaning up from Downtown Champaign to West Side Park in collaboration with The City of Champaign’s Neighborhood Services Department. This is a great chance to give back, connect with others, and help keep our city beautiful. DM us to rsvp.

Bring your energy and community spirit!

04/08/2025

Join us for our upcoming Greener Together - Community Clean-Up event in collaboration with the City of Champaign’s Neighborhood Services Department!

📅 Date: Saturday, May 3rd

Join us in cleaning from Downtown Champaign to West Side Park in collaboration with The City of Champaign’s Neighborhood Services Department. This is a great chance to give back, connect with others, and help keep our city beautiful.

Bring your energy and community spirit!
DM us for details